In her article Condoms, Chinese and the constitution at Malaysiakini, sweetie Helen Ang revealed to us the attempts by Mohd Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, to intrude, interfere and impose his rigid sexual morality on non-Muslim Malaysians.
Sweetie told us the bloke wrote in an Utusan article titled 'Isu timbul kerana kejahilan beragama', that: “… liquor has now become a part of the Chinese culture/way of life, just like sex outside marriage”.
He also said that the non-Malays “can go to Kuala Lumpur, drink arak and visit the nightclubs until they pass out because maybe their religions allow them to do so.”
Let me answer that.
Firstly, liquor has always been a part of Chinese culture since time immemorial – it didn’t start here in Malaysia. China’s most famous poet Li Po was said to have fallen into a vat of wine while drunk, and drowned – what a … hic … way to go wakakaka!
As for sex outside marriage, I don’t believe Chinese have the monopoly on such acts – just look around the world … well I won’t say much here but I have Arab friends and I know how they behave when they see and are around women. There there is of course the domestic scene ... but 'nuff said ;-)
As for his assertion that “… non-Malays can go to Kuala Lumpur, drink arak and visit the nightclubs until they pass out because maybe their religions allow them to do so …”, while I won’t dispute the first part, that of pissing, puking and passing out which I had occasionally done (though I pride myself I don't puke nor pass out that easily wakakaka), I wonder how Ridhuan came to the offensive conclusion that our religions allow us to do so?
For your information, Ridhuan, some religions like Buddhism neither allow nor disallow - it's between our gods/beliefs and us, and not for some modern wannabe prophets to dictate to or threaten us, so kindly F* off.
Apart from intruding into our religious beliefs, Ridhuan seemed to be obsessed with the sexual activities of non-Muslims.
There are some like Ridhuan - Chinese Muslims or Muslim with a Chinese father and Malay mum, or with a Malay dad and a Chinese mum - who always feel a desperate need to prove to their Malay-Muslim counterparts that they are also Muslim tulin or Malay wannabe yang tulin.
Once my ‘best friend’ was one of them – he was always f* feral and ferocious in his Muslim-Malay-ness but only when there were Malays around, but would be the nicest and most secular-minded liberal when they weren’t.
I regret not asking him why he had to so ‘prove’ his Muslim-Malay-ness because the poor bloke died in an unfortunate accident – I’ll never ever know.
In some ways I feel sorry for this Ridhuan bloke who has obviously found himself or felt that he is in a social twilight zone, where he believes he is neither accepted here nor there, but wants to be, so has to keep trying.
Ridhuan should perhaps look at those people working in departments starting with the acronym of 'JAI-' because I recall one case where such an officer who caught a woman in a nightclub (or somewhere) offered to ‘let her go’ if she did a blowjob for him. I assure Ridhuan he isn’t Chinese, and I doubt he offered to wear a condom for the blowjob.
Then there was that Zuok nightclub case where some 'JAI-' officers (obviously not Chinese) forced women to urinate in front of their hot hungry eyes. Rather pathetic to be so desperate - I have some old copies of 'Playboy' and 'Penthouse' I could donate to their office for their wanking pleasures.
Dr Ridhuan, kindly look into these incidents or you are the greatest hypocrite in moralising to non-Muslims.
Now I would like to refer again to my matey Dean John’s article Umno boys protest too much which states words to the effect that when a bloke comes on mucho too macho, he could possibly be a monoclinous MSM.
Dean and I suspect that when someone overdoes something, or overcompensates, could it be that he wishes to hide another something, not unlike the above case of someone not quite Malay trying to over-prove his Malay-Muslim-ness?
Tongue-in-cheek, Dean pointed out that those UMNO Youth wannabe Hang Tuahs outside the Australian High Commission, with their wira-style headbands, looked more like Village People contingent in a gay-pride march than serious political protestors wakakaka!
Dean pointed out statistics have shown that as many as 10% of adult humans are either bi or gay, though a great many either deny or pretend they're not, especially in countries like Malaysia where it's against the law wakakaka.
Dean being Dean of course ended up by remarking that, “… as hopelessly heterosexual as I am, I've often wished I was at least bisexual so I could, as Woody Allen once famously remarked, have twice the chance of a date on Saturday nights”.
I am more moderate - I think I'll settle for sweetie Helen Ang wakakaka (just a joke Helen) ;-)
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Politically Partisan Police Pariah, Pathetic & Pukish
Yesterday in my post Police targetting Lim Guan Eng I stated that The pathetic RMP are at it again, playing politics, this time by harassing Lim GE.
Today the police decided to harass both PKR and DAP MPs – see Malaysiakini’s Sivarasa, Salahuddin, 7 others in police sights.
Salahuddin stated the investigations on Pakatan MPs for sedition was playing out like a ‘script’ …
… written by …?
He said: "It looks like whoever who talks about the sodomy trial during a ceramah will definitely be charged under the Sedition Act."
If the police had demonstrated equal vigilance against Utusan Melayu and other mainstream mouthpieces of UMNO for their worse acts of sedition (via their racially inflammatory articles) and the likes of opportunisic-bigot Ibrahim Ali, we might have given them the benefit of the doubt, but alas, they’re so pathetically and pariah-ishly predictable.
As my good matey, Dean Johns said about the UMNO Youth rally at the Aussie Hi-Comm in his latest column piece Umno boys protest too much:
… the rally outside the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, was just one more demonstration of the deceit and double-dealing behind ridiculous slogans like '1Malaysia' and 'Umno Juara Rakyat'.
While this regime denies most Malaysian citizens their constitutional right to peaceful public assembly, Umno/BN positively supports and sponsors protests against its opponents.
No threats of arrest under the ISA as for the rest of the rakyat, not a water cannon in sight, and the police and FRU on hand not to disrupt the performance but to see that it all goes smoothly.
And this bias is absolutely blatant, as when, following last year's outrageous 'cow's head' protest against a Hindu temple, Minister Hishammuddin Hussein defended the culprits with “in this day and age, protests should be accepted in this world as people want their voices to be heard. If we don't give them room to voice their opinions, they have no choice but to protest”.
But then within hours he gave the lie to this self-serving liberal sentiment by condoning the arrest of a handful of people holding a peaceful candle-light vigil in protest against the government. And in a similarly disgraceful display of the same double standard, he initially downplayed a rash of attacks on churches by firebrands opposed to the use of the word 'Allah' by Christians, by suggesting that the culprits were just a bunch of naughty boys.
Naughty boys, juvenile delinquents, mat rempit, whatever, it's patently and painfully evident that protest is only permissible as long as they're Umno/BN boys, as in the recent rally against us nosey Australians.
F* the Minister but we can see just how pathetically political and partisan the Police had been, are and will be … and they have the f* brazen nerve to claim a motto of Tegas, Adil Dan Berhemah (Firm, Fair And Prudent).
How pukish!
Today the police decided to harass both PKR and DAP MPs – see Malaysiakini’s Sivarasa, Salahuddin, 7 others in police sights.
Salahuddin stated the investigations on Pakatan MPs for sedition was playing out like a ‘script’ …
… written by …?
He said: "It looks like whoever who talks about the sodomy trial during a ceramah will definitely be charged under the Sedition Act."
If the police had demonstrated equal vigilance against Utusan Melayu and other mainstream mouthpieces of UMNO for their worse acts of sedition (via their racially inflammatory articles) and the likes of opportunisic-bigot Ibrahim Ali, we might have given them the benefit of the doubt, but alas, they’re so pathetically and pariah-ishly predictable.
As my good matey, Dean Johns said about the UMNO Youth rally at the Aussie Hi-Comm in his latest column piece Umno boys protest too much:
… the rally outside the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, was just one more demonstration of the deceit and double-dealing behind ridiculous slogans like '1Malaysia' and 'Umno Juara Rakyat'.
While this regime denies most Malaysian citizens their constitutional right to peaceful public assembly, Umno/BN positively supports and sponsors protests against its opponents.
No threats of arrest under the ISA as for the rest of the rakyat, not a water cannon in sight, and the police and FRU on hand not to disrupt the performance but to see that it all goes smoothly.
And this bias is absolutely blatant, as when, following last year's outrageous 'cow's head' protest against a Hindu temple, Minister Hishammuddin Hussein defended the culprits with “in this day and age, protests should be accepted in this world as people want their voices to be heard. If we don't give them room to voice their opinions, they have no choice but to protest”.
But then within hours he gave the lie to this self-serving liberal sentiment by condoning the arrest of a handful of people holding a peaceful candle-light vigil in protest against the government. And in a similarly disgraceful display of the same double standard, he initially downplayed a rash of attacks on churches by firebrands opposed to the use of the word 'Allah' by Christians, by suggesting that the culprits were just a bunch of naughty boys.
Naughty boys, juvenile delinquents, mat rempit, whatever, it's patently and painfully evident that protest is only permissible as long as they're Umno/BN boys, as in the recent rally against us nosey Australians.
F* the Minister but we can see just how pathetically political and partisan the Police had been, are and will be … and they have the f* brazen nerve to claim a motto of Tegas, Adil Dan Berhemah (Firm, Fair And Prudent).
How pukish!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Police targetting Lim Guan Eng
Malaysiakini - Cops zoom in on Guan Eng
The pathetic RMP are at it again, playing politics, this time by harassing Lim GE.
Those men in blue claimed they are acting on reports lodged in Penang - in Sungai Nibong, Kg Baru, Kubang Semang, Seberang Jaya, Sungai Pinang and Kepala Batas. They said the alleged offences comprise four counts of participating in an illegal assembly, one of violating the Sedition Act 1948 and three counts of criminal defamation.
WHAT, no sodomy!
And what about Lim being a chauvinistic, communist-minded dictator?
But other than a hint that he is being investigated on 6 counts, Lim has not been told when those alleged incidents happened nor any details necessary for Lim to defend himself.
Of course the identities of the complainants are still unknown, and undoubtedly classified TOP SECRET – NATIONAL SECURITY!
His lawyer, Jagdeet Singh, said: "If chief minister is to defend himself, he has to know what he is being accused of".
… and ‘when’ those incidents occurred would also be helpful!
Jagdeet also said: “Many reports have been lodged against others - the prime minister, menteris besar and cabinet members. I want to know whether the police are investigating those allegations.”
Hmmmm, better not hold your breath.
The pathetic RMP are at it again, playing politics, this time by harassing Lim GE.
Those men in blue claimed they are acting on reports lodged in Penang - in Sungai Nibong, Kg Baru, Kubang Semang, Seberang Jaya, Sungai Pinang and Kepala Batas. They said the alleged offences comprise four counts of participating in an illegal assembly, one of violating the Sedition Act 1948 and three counts of criminal defamation.
WHAT, no sodomy!
And what about Lim being a chauvinistic, communist-minded dictator?
But other than a hint that he is being investigated on 6 counts, Lim has not been told when those alleged incidents happened nor any details necessary for Lim to defend himself.
Of course the identities of the complainants are still unknown, and undoubtedly classified TOP SECRET – NATIONAL SECURITY!
His lawyer, Jagdeet Singh, said: "If chief minister is to defend himself, he has to know what he is being accused of".
… and ‘when’ those incidents occurred would also be helpful!
Jagdeet also said: “Many reports have been lodged against others - the prime minister, menteris besar and cabinet members. I want to know whether the police are investigating those allegations.”
Hmmmm, better not hold your breath.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Charming Caning Conference
malaysiakini photoShahrizat Abdul Jalil, our minister for Women, Family and Community Development, tells us that an Arab country, Oman, does not have any legislative provisions for caning sentence either under syariah or civil law.
That’s right, under BOTH syariah and civil laws.
Nah nah nah, you Arabs, we Malaysians Boleh!
Being minister for women, she now wants her Ministry to organise global meet on caning.
This amazing and brilliant idea follows the recent caning of three women who had illicit sex. I wonder what their sex partners received?
Obviously our dear Shahrizat, like Najib and Hishamuddin, is neither here nor there – too afraid to stand up for women, too embarrassed to keep her mouth shut, she now digs a bigger hole for herself, to hide or to bury herself?
But hey, don't blame her just because she's behaving like a cacing kena abu. It does show in a certain way she has some troubled conscience ... but not enough!
She said: "We can share ideas and practices and gain in-depth knowledge on how each country views the caning sentence."
Share practices?
Gawd, gasp, omigosh, another world first!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Name of 'Pakatan Rakyat Malaysia' smells!
Equo ne credite, Teucri
Quidquid id est,
timeo Danaos et dona ferentis
Do not trust the Horse, Trojans
Whatever it is,
I fear the Greeks even when they bring gifts
- Virgil (Aeneid)
The Malaysian Insider’s RoS prefers ‘Pakatan Rakyat Malaysia’ tells us that the Registrar of Societies (RoS) wants the word ‘Malaysia’ added to the registration of Pakatan Rakyat, to reflect the national identity.
This is the same RoS who had thwarted the registration of PSM for years and years, but in contrasting action, registered the Makkal Sakthi party in less time than you can spell ‘hijacked name’.
This is also the same RoS who is being sued for allegedly allowing someone in Makkal Sakthi to amend the party’s constitution to endow the president with extra powers to sack party leaders.
Now it seems RoS wants Pakatan Rakyat to add the word ‘Malaysia’ in the coalition’s name.
According to Saifuddin Nasution, the secretary-general of PKR, “The Ros wants the word ‘Malaysia’ added to instil the national image onto Pakatan Rakyat.”
Wait a ding dong minute, it is not RoS’ job to suggest names, unless of course if some other organisation or party already has the name, or the to-be-registered name is forbidden like, for example, ‘The Allah’s Party’.
If Pakatan Rakyat is registered as Pakatan Rakyat Malaysia, RoS may then require the coalition to carry the abbreviation ‘PRM’ where/if abbreviation is to be used, perhaps on ballot papers or election campaign posters!
PRM also stands for Parti Rakyat Malaysia, or as most Malaysians know it, the socialist party.
Alas, ‘socialism’ is a dirty word in the Malay heartland because it also means ‘communism’, regardless of whether that perception is warranted or not.
Chinese Malaysians call Parti Rakyat Malaysia ‘goo t’au tong’, meaning the party with the head of a water buffalo as its party symbol. The symbol of 'goo t'au tong' carries the same political association as the one the Malay heartland holds for anything ‘socialist’, namely ‘communist’!
You can bet your bottom RMB, rouble or even rupiah that the BN will exploit this to its hilt – by alleging that Pakatan Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) are closeted communists.
Politically, it's an abbreviation that I trust the Pakatan leaders will studiously avoid.
Quidquid id est,
timeo Danaos et dona ferentis
Do not trust the Horse, Trojans
Whatever it is,
I fear the Greeks even when they bring gifts
- Virgil (Aeneid)
The Malaysian Insider’s RoS prefers ‘Pakatan Rakyat Malaysia’ tells us that the Registrar of Societies (RoS) wants the word ‘Malaysia’ added to the registration of Pakatan Rakyat, to reflect the national identity.
This is the same RoS who had thwarted the registration of PSM for years and years, but in contrasting action, registered the Makkal Sakthi party in less time than you can spell ‘hijacked name’.
This is also the same RoS who is being sued for allegedly allowing someone in Makkal Sakthi to amend the party’s constitution to endow the president with extra powers to sack party leaders.
Now it seems RoS wants Pakatan Rakyat to add the word ‘Malaysia’ in the coalition’s name.
According to Saifuddin Nasution, the secretary-general of PKR, “The Ros wants the word ‘Malaysia’ added to instil the national image onto Pakatan Rakyat.”
Wait a ding dong minute, it is not RoS’ job to suggest names, unless of course if some other organisation or party already has the name, or the to-be-registered name is forbidden like, for example, ‘The Allah’s Party’.
If Pakatan Rakyat is registered as Pakatan Rakyat Malaysia, RoS may then require the coalition to carry the abbreviation ‘PRM’ where/if abbreviation is to be used, perhaps on ballot papers or election campaign posters!
PRM also stands for Parti Rakyat Malaysia, or as most Malaysians know it, the socialist party.
Alas, ‘socialism’ is a dirty word in the Malay heartland because it also means ‘communism’, regardless of whether that perception is warranted or not.
Chinese Malaysians call Parti Rakyat Malaysia ‘goo t’au tong’, meaning the party with the head of a water buffalo as its party symbol. The symbol of 'goo t'au tong' carries the same political association as the one the Malay heartland holds for anything ‘socialist’, namely ‘communist’!
You can bet your bottom RMB, rouble or even rupiah that the BN will exploit this to its hilt – by alleging that Pakatan Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) are closeted communists.
Politically, it's an abbreviation that I trust the Pakatan leaders will studiously avoid.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Penang DAP - learn from Gerakan's Indian mistake
Hey, I posted this at my other blog BolehTalk on 14 January 2008, 2 months before the last general election - thought it might be good for another read wakakaka!
Raja Bodek's promise to Indians - all hot air
Malaysiakini photo - some Penang sweeties
... and it surely came to pass that a tsunami struck the Penang BN on 08 March 2008.
Also, with the advantage of hindsight, what does this say about Kampung Buah Pala and Gerakan-BN's culpability?
I hope the DAP will learn from Raja's bull, namely, to "... to develop and unveil a blueprint ... on current and future plans to improve the standard of living of the Indian community ... and implement that a.s.a.p."
Best to learn from other's mistake than your own.
********
Raja Bodek's promise to Indians - all hot air
Malaysiakini today published what many people already know, that Raja Bodek has done diddly squat for the Penang Indians. Its headlines asked Is Koh 'sincere and honest' about helping Indians?
;-) well, you judge from the following extracts (in italised gold highlights):
In 50 years of independence, this is the first time a chief minister has held a dialogue session with Indian NGOs and temple committees.
Let’s be fair – he wasn’t the CM for the last fifty years but the Gerakan Party provided the CM since 1969, though everyone knows the current Deputy CM Abdul Rashid Abdullah of UMNO is the de facto CM.
But it does prove that the Perikatan-Gerakan-BN, each in turn has been taking the poor Indians for granted, like vassals to be summoned to cast their votes for Sahib once every five years.
Dei, mama, auntie, aneh, aka, tambee and tangachee, time to flex your H-power - vote wisely.
;-) well, you judge from the following extracts (in italised gold highlights):
In 50 years of independence, this is the first time a chief minister has held a dialogue session with Indian NGOs and temple committees.
Let’s be fair – he wasn’t the CM for the last fifty years but the Gerakan Party provided the CM since 1969, though everyone knows the current Deputy CM Abdul Rashid Abdullah of UMNO is the de facto CM.
But it does prove that the Perikatan-Gerakan-BN, each in turn has been taking the poor Indians for granted, like vassals to be summoned to cast their votes for Sahib once every five years.
Dei, mama, auntie, aneh, aka, tambee and tangachee, time to flex your H-power - vote wisely.
Malaysiakini photo - some Penang sweeties However only NGOs, temple committees and local community leaders who are presumed as Barisan Nasional (BN) supporters were invited to the meeting.
Raja Bodek claimed: "I can ensure you that the state government will (do everything in) its power to address all issues pertaining to Indian affairs" yet he’s marginalising non-BN Indian supporters. Where's the sincerity?
"If Koh and his government are serious, he would have unveiled a blueprint by now on current and future plans to improve the standard of living of the Indian community," said a delegate.
Too right mate, Raja is all talk only. But then for you from the BN to say this, must surely reflect on the wisdom of your political allegiance.
Although delegates raised various questions touching on housing, temples, Tamil schools and economic opportunities, Koh could not produce any concrete plans to allay fears of continued hardship for those in the community.
Hahahahahahahhahahaha – what can be worse than the BN for Indians?
Answer = Raja Bodek for Indians.
********
... and it surely came to pass that a tsunami struck the Penang BN on 08 March 2008.
Also, with the advantage of hindsight, what does this say about Kampung Buah Pala and Gerakan-BN's culpability?
I hope the DAP will learn from Raja's bull, namely, to "... to develop and unveil a blueprint ... on current and future plans to improve the standard of living of the Indian community ... and implement that a.s.a.p."
Best to learn from other's mistake than your own.
Kulim Koward Klearout to Korea
In its news article Zul Noordin dodging party disciplinary hearing The Malaysian Insider reported:
PKR deputy president Syed Husin Ali said today Kulim Bandar Bharu MP Zulkifli Noordin has been evading the party’s disciplinary board.
Syed Husin, in a statement issued today, said the errant MP, known for his Islamic hardline views, has been told to reply to a Feb 8 show cause letter but asked for a Feb 12 extension.
Zulkifli picked either today or Feb 23 to face the board but on Feb 16, the problematic Kulim MP told the media that he was going to Korea for a party trip. PKR denied there was such a trip today.
“The party has no idea about his trip. He never told the disciplinary board anything about the trip nor did he propose a substitute date for his hearing,” said Syed Husin. “This is typical of him ... Zulkifli has chosen his personal Korean trip over attending the hearing to defend himself.”
Alamak, how to be a warrior defending Islam when he doesn’t even have the gonads to defend his self-claimed Islamic stand?
When the going gets tough, the tough gets going, but the Kulim Koward Klearout to Korea.
Kurang K%t*k!
PKR deputy president Syed Husin Ali said today Kulim Bandar Bharu MP Zulkifli Noordin has been evading the party’s disciplinary board.
Syed Husin, in a statement issued today, said the errant MP, known for his Islamic hardline views, has been told to reply to a Feb 8 show cause letter but asked for a Feb 12 extension.
Zulkifli picked either today or Feb 23 to face the board but on Feb 16, the problematic Kulim MP told the media that he was going to Korea for a party trip. PKR denied there was such a trip today.
“The party has no idea about his trip. He never told the disciplinary board anything about the trip nor did he propose a substitute date for his hearing,” said Syed Husin. “This is typical of him ... Zulkifli has chosen his personal Korean trip over attending the hearing to defend himself.”
Alamak, how to be a warrior defending Islam when he doesn’t even have the gonads to defend his self-claimed Islamic stand?
When the going gets tough, the tough gets going, but the Kulim Koward Klearout to Korea.
Kurang K%t*k!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Hishamuddin & the secret caning of women
On 10 February Malaysiakini published my letter titled Rulers in politics a dangerous thing.
While my subject was on the inadvisability of royal activism in politics, I also mentioned that there were two monumental blunders in recent Malaysian political strategies. I had then written:
The first was when Dr Mahathir Mohamad, then as prime minister, wanted to outflank PAS' growing influence among the pious in the Malay heartland. He did so by declaring Malaysia as an Islamic nation, diametrically opposite to Tunku Abdul Rahman's earlier declaration that Malaysia was a secular state which upheld Islam as the nation's official religion.
Whatever good motive he might have in his manoeuvre to politically pre-empt PAS, he introduced a new element into the Malaysian judicial system, one that was and still is unwelcomed by non-Muslims.
Yes, as I had written, … By taking such a constitutionally radical step to neutralise PAS, he opened, what non-Muslims would call, a Pandora's Box, one which he couldn't close back again. From thence, he gradually gave in to the genie he unwittingly released.
We cannot accept the usual argument that only Muslims would be affected because Madam Kaliammal, wife of the late Moorthy (he of the body snatching case) was deeply affected and severely traumatised - and so were other non-Muslims in similar predicament.
Since then there has been an erosion of the supremacy of civil laws.
Four years ago I wrote in a previous post SUHAKAM Chairman: "Civil Court Judges Lack Balls" that Abu Talib Othman, the chairman of SUHAKAM and former Attorney-General in Dr Mahathir’s government, the very man who had drafted the contentious Article 121 (1)(A) in 1988, severely criticized the timidity of the civil courts in interpreting the constitutional rights [and limitations] of the syariah courts in the Moorthy case.
Abu Talib blamed the civil courts for lacking the balls to interpret the provisions according to the intentions of the proponents [of the Constitution].
When human rights lawyer Malik Imtiaz told him about civil court judges who admit to being Muslims first, Abu Talib advised him to report the matter and if there was evidence, those judges should be removed.
He said: “They are unfit to be judges, then. Judges should remember their constitutional oath to protect and uphold the Federal Constitution as the supreme law of the land.”
Yesterday we read that Three women [were] caned for extramarital sex in accordance with the sentences passed down by the syariah courts.
There was also the case of Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno who was also sentenced to six strokes of the cane for drinking beer.
It’s not for me to question the decisions of the syariah courts … UNLESS … these had been against the civil laws.
Malaysian civil laws do not permit women to be caned. Additionally, in accordance with the civil law, a person cannot be caned by the prison authorities unless that person is a prisoner.
Kartika wasn't a prisoner, yet it has been reported that prison authorities had averred they were waiting for instructions from the syariah court to conduct the caning on her ... and presumably to f* with the civil laws of the nation.
So how, Minister? Haven't civil laws been violated?
The greater shame of the Home Minister has been that he allowed the illegal sentencing to be carried out secretly, yes, secretly as if he had been ashamed of the very actions of his own ministry.
Hishamuddin had the gall to say [as reported by MKINI]: "The punishment is to teach and give a chance to those who have fallen off the path to return and build a better life in future," ..... adding that none of the three sustained any injuries.
To recap, the secret caning of the women had been illegal in accordance with Malaysian civil laws.
Hishamuddin was too afraid or embarrassed to be upfront with those punishments. I bet if he could distance himself from ownership of the decision to proceed with the punishment he would have done so.
But alas, civil laws as we used to know it have become a victim of political opportunism and a faint heart.
And shouldn’t we apply Abu Talib’s admonition of those civil court judges to Hishamuddin as well, as in:
“They are He is unfit to be judges a minister, then. Judges A minister should remember their his constitutional oath to protect and uphold the Federal Constitution as the supreme law of the land.”
While my subject was on the inadvisability of royal activism in politics, I also mentioned that there were two monumental blunders in recent Malaysian political strategies. I had then written:
The first was when Dr Mahathir Mohamad, then as prime minister, wanted to outflank PAS' growing influence among the pious in the Malay heartland. He did so by declaring Malaysia as an Islamic nation, diametrically opposite to Tunku Abdul Rahman's earlier declaration that Malaysia was a secular state which upheld Islam as the nation's official religion.
Whatever good motive he might have in his manoeuvre to politically pre-empt PAS, he introduced a new element into the Malaysian judicial system, one that was and still is unwelcomed by non-Muslims.
Yes, as I had written, … By taking such a constitutionally radical step to neutralise PAS, he opened, what non-Muslims would call, a Pandora's Box, one which he couldn't close back again. From thence, he gradually gave in to the genie he unwittingly released.
We cannot accept the usual argument that only Muslims would be affected because Madam Kaliammal, wife of the late Moorthy (he of the body snatching case) was deeply affected and severely traumatised - and so were other non-Muslims in similar predicament.
Since then there has been an erosion of the supremacy of civil laws.
Four years ago I wrote in a previous post SUHAKAM Chairman: "Civil Court Judges Lack Balls" that Abu Talib Othman, the chairman of SUHAKAM and former Attorney-General in Dr Mahathir’s government, the very man who had drafted the contentious Article 121 (1)(A) in 1988, severely criticized the timidity of the civil courts in interpreting the constitutional rights [and limitations] of the syariah courts in the Moorthy case.
Abu Talib blamed the civil courts for lacking the balls to interpret the provisions according to the intentions of the proponents [of the Constitution].
When human rights lawyer Malik Imtiaz told him about civil court judges who admit to being Muslims first, Abu Talib advised him to report the matter and if there was evidence, those judges should be removed.
He said: “They are unfit to be judges, then. Judges should remember their constitutional oath to protect and uphold the Federal Constitution as the supreme law of the land.”
Yesterday we read that Three women [were] caned for extramarital sex in accordance with the sentences passed down by the syariah courts.
There was also the case of Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno who was also sentenced to six strokes of the cane for drinking beer.
It’s not for me to question the decisions of the syariah courts … UNLESS … these had been against the civil laws.
Malaysian civil laws do not permit women to be caned. Additionally, in accordance with the civil law, a person cannot be caned by the prison authorities unless that person is a prisoner.
Kartika wasn't a prisoner, yet it has been reported that prison authorities had averred they were waiting for instructions from the syariah court to conduct the caning on her ... and presumably to f* with the civil laws of the nation.
So how, Minister? Haven't civil laws been violated?
The greater shame of the Home Minister has been that he allowed the illegal sentencing to be carried out secretly, yes, secretly as if he had been ashamed of the very actions of his own ministry.
Hishamuddin had the gall to say [as reported by MKINI]: "The punishment is to teach and give a chance to those who have fallen off the path to return and build a better life in future," ..... adding that none of the three sustained any injuries.
To recap, the secret caning of the women had been illegal in accordance with Malaysian civil laws.
Hishamuddin was too afraid or embarrassed to be upfront with those punishments. I bet if he could distance himself from ownership of the decision to proceed with the punishment he would have done so.
But alas, civil laws as we used to know it have become a victim of political opportunism and a faint heart.
And shouldn’t we apply Abu Talib’s admonition of those civil court judges to Hishamuddin as well, as in:
“
Friday, February 12, 2010
Ali Rustam cleared; Muhyiddin blurred?
Malaysiakini in its news article MACC drops graft case against S'gor MB, 7 others reported that: “…no further prosecution would be taken in eight high-profile cases involving both Pakatan Rakyat and BN politicians.”
The one I’m interested in is of course Ali Rustam. The Malacca CM had been under a cloud “…for allegedly throwing pre-party election dinners for Umno delegates last year.”
If we all recall, because of that Ali Rustam was barred from the UMNO election for the party’s deputy presidential post. There was a very high probability of him winning that post if he wasn’t disqualified. He would have been the DPM today.
Then Najib had favoured Muhyiddin. But now?
There have been rumours that all is not well between Najib and Muhyiddin.
I wonder whether the MACC clearing Ali Rustam, thus indirectly re-qualifying him as a potential candidate for UMNO's No 2 spot, is a warning shot across the bow for Muhyiddin.
Oh, by the way, just consider those Pakatan people being cleared as ‘collateral beneficiaries’.
Mind you, Najib may face a far more dangerous ‘deputy’ in Ali, and is thus unlikely to completely endorse him over Muhyiddin; but Ali's clearance from corrupt charges makes him a threat to the DPM.
Muhyiddin now needs Najib more than Najib needing him.
Related:
Is someone undermining Najib Razak?
The one I’m interested in is of course Ali Rustam. The Malacca CM had been under a cloud “…for allegedly throwing pre-party election dinners for Umno delegates last year.”
If we all recall, because of that Ali Rustam was barred from the UMNO election for the party’s deputy presidential post. There was a very high probability of him winning that post if he wasn’t disqualified. He would have been the DPM today.
Then Najib had favoured Muhyiddin. But now?
There have been rumours that all is not well between Najib and Muhyiddin.
I wonder whether the MACC clearing Ali Rustam, thus indirectly re-qualifying him as a potential candidate for UMNO's No 2 spot, is a warning shot across the bow for Muhyiddin.
Oh, by the way, just consider those Pakatan people being cleared as ‘collateral beneficiaries’.
Mind you, Najib may face a far more dangerous ‘deputy’ in Ali, and is thus unlikely to completely endorse him over Muhyiddin; but Ali's clearance from corrupt charges makes him a threat to the DPM.
Muhyiddin now needs Najib more than Najib needing him.
Related:
Is someone undermining Najib Razak?
Aesop's Fable No 1 - The fox & the grapes
It was a very hot and sunny afternoon. A fox, which had been hunting the whole day, was very thirsty.
"How I wish there was some water," the fox thought to himself, "It's been pretty dry since I left the place with thecesspool."
Just then, he saw bunches of fat and juicy grapes hanging from a vine at a golf course. The grapes looked ripe and ready to burst with juice.
Still not ready to give up, the fox walked back further and took another running leap at the grapes. Again, he could not reach the grapes. He cursed the man who set theCAT standard trellis so high, screaming “He’s dictator, yes, a communist-minded, chauvinist dictator.”
The fox jumped and leapt, again and again, but each time he could not reach the grapes. Until, at last, the fox was tired and thirstier than ever.
"What a fool I am!" said the fox furiously. "These grapes are sour and not fit for eating. Why would I want to stay around here anyway?"
With that, the fox walked away.
"How I wish there was some water," the fox thought to himself, "It's been pretty dry since I left the place with the
Just then, he saw bunches of fat and juicy grapes hanging from a vine at a golf course. The grapes looked ripe and ready to burst with juice.
"Oh, my! Oh, my!" the fox said as his mouth began to water. "Sweet grape juice, quench my thirst! And I only need a RM2 company crate to stand on and be high enough to reach it."
The fox stood on tiptoe on his RM2 crate and stretched as high as he could, but the grapes were out of his reach because the communist had set the trellis too high.
Not about to give up, the fox walked back a short distance and took a running leap onto the RM2 crate to reach the grapes. Again, he could not reach the grapes. “That damn chauvinist.”
The fox stood on tiptoe on his RM2 crate and stretched as high as he could, but the grapes were out of his reach because the communist had set the trellis too high.
Not about to give up, the fox walked back a short distance and took a running leap onto the RM2 crate to reach the grapes. Again, he could not reach the grapes. “That damn chauvinist.”
Still not ready to give up, the fox walked back further and took another running leap at the grapes. Again, he could not reach the grapes. He cursed the man who set the
The fox jumped and leapt, again and again, but each time he could not reach the grapes. Until, at last, the fox was tired and thirstier than ever.
"What a fool I am!" said the fox furiously. "These grapes are sour and not fit for eating. Why would I want to stay around here anyway?"
With that, the fox walked away.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Mean-spirited Malaysians
There’s a lamentable mean-spiritedness in Malaysian politics, proving in more than one way that:
(a) we aren’t quite ready for a two-party political system,
(b) some politicians don’t consider all citizens of this country (including their own supporters and political opponents) as fellow Malaysians, and
(c) political attacks are often ad hominem rather than directed at the policies, governance and conduct of the other side.
The BN side
Of course we are familiar with the BN's denial of oil royalties to then PAS-ruled Terengganu and now PAS-ruled Kelantan. The States’ right to oil royalties has been enshrined as a legal Federal-State contract but the BN government has arrogantly ignored that, and is spitefully frustrating the PAS State government (then and now) in a disgraceful mean-spirited manner.
We have also read with disgust how the current federal government is channelling financial allocations for maintaining Penang’s heritage listings through Khazanah Nasional rather than the Pakatan government in Penang.
Just WTF has the investment holding arm of the government, roled as its strategic investor in new industries and markets, got to do with maintenance of the heritage buildings etc? Logic tells us that the State government should be responsible for the job, and thus the correct recipient of the funds.
Again, nothing more than BN's spite and mean-spiritedness, and a total disregard for logical and proper process.
We know that while BN MPs and ADUNs have received financial allocations for work in their respective constituencies, the non-BN MPs and ADUNs (in BN controlled States) are denied theirs.
The irony is there are actually BN supporters in those electorates represented by non-BN MPs and ADUNs. Such is the BN's spite that they would punish their own supporters as well. Perhaps those BN supporters should wake up and rethink who they ought to support the next time around.
The Pakatan side
Well, there’s that infamous DAP function where some of those DAP people stepped on the photos/posters of the Perak frogs as they entered the venue. Totally unpleasant, and I’m glad Lim GE took avoiding steps.
PAS of course has been known to issue a couple of death (or tummy upset) curses wakakaka at their opponents in the BN - c'mon lah, Pak Haji!
Today I have been disappointed to read in Malaysiakini the headlines Rosmah to lose Unisel chancellor post which states:
Calls for first lady Rosmah Mansor to be removed as Universiti Industri Selangor (Unisel) chancellor are again making rounds, this time, by PKR politicians on micro-blogging site Twitter.
In a Twitter posting by PKR vice-president Azmin Ali, Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim has agreed to Rosmah's removal in a month's time.
"Students urged the MB to remove Datin Rosmah (right) as Unisel chancellor.
"MB agreed and will announce in one month. Thunderous applause," read Azmin's posting.
Azmin's posting was referring to a gathering of 300 students from various universities with Azmin, Khalid and PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.
This is really pathetic, shamelessly partisan and totally mean-spirited.
She was invited by the previous Selangor government so why not let her term as Chancellor finish off without re-inviting her?
Why make such a spiteful announcement? It’s pathetic, pitiful, petty and utterly childish. Don’t Azmin Ali and other PKR leaders have more important things to do, like running Selangor State, than to dabble around with such masturbatory indulgences?
The argument that she should go because she is surrounded by controversies is not only too partisan but unsubstantiated.
We only have RPK’s word that she was allegedly at the scene of Altantuyaa Shariibuu’s last moments to personally ‘supervise’ the demolition of the late model’s corpse – which without any shred of evidence other than RPK's 'I have been reliably informed ...' has been, in my opinion, an incredulous preposterous allegation.
There was also an argument that her Masters degree wasn’t good enough – really, this is such a pathetic shabby argument.
OK, I know PKR is deliberately being vocal about Rosmah as part of their tactic to mitigate the Sodomy II fallout, by ratcheting up the anti-Najib campaign, but PKR should have remained on high moral grounds rather than ….. sorry, I keep forgetting they and UMNO are from the same stock … where spiteful pettiness and mean-spiritedness are their stock-in-trade.
I hope DAP will never descend to such petty bickering.
(a) we aren’t quite ready for a two-party political system,
(b) some politicians don’t consider all citizens of this country (including their own supporters and political opponents) as fellow Malaysians, and
(c) political attacks are often ad hominem rather than directed at the policies, governance and conduct of the other side.
The BN side
Of course we are familiar with the BN's denial of oil royalties to then PAS-ruled Terengganu and now PAS-ruled Kelantan. The States’ right to oil royalties has been enshrined as a legal Federal-State contract but the BN government has arrogantly ignored that, and is spitefully frustrating the PAS State government (then and now) in a disgraceful mean-spirited manner.
We have also read with disgust how the current federal government is channelling financial allocations for maintaining Penang’s heritage listings through Khazanah Nasional rather than the Pakatan government in Penang.
Just WTF has the investment holding arm of the government, roled as its strategic investor in new industries and markets, got to do with maintenance of the heritage buildings etc? Logic tells us that the State government should be responsible for the job, and thus the correct recipient of the funds.
Again, nothing more than BN's spite and mean-spiritedness, and a total disregard for logical and proper process.
We know that while BN MPs and ADUNs have received financial allocations for work in their respective constituencies, the non-BN MPs and ADUNs (in BN controlled States) are denied theirs.
The irony is there are actually BN supporters in those electorates represented by non-BN MPs and ADUNs. Such is the BN's spite that they would punish their own supporters as well. Perhaps those BN supporters should wake up and rethink who they ought to support the next time around.
The Pakatan side
Well, there’s that infamous DAP function where some of those DAP people stepped on the photos/posters of the Perak frogs as they entered the venue. Totally unpleasant, and I’m glad Lim GE took avoiding steps.
PAS of course has been known to issue a couple of death (or tummy upset) curses wakakaka at their opponents in the BN - c'mon lah, Pak Haji!
Today I have been disappointed to read in Malaysiakini the headlines Rosmah to lose Unisel chancellor post which states:
Calls for first lady Rosmah Mansor to be removed as Universiti Industri Selangor (Unisel) chancellor are again making rounds, this time, by PKR politicians on micro-blogging site Twitter.
In a Twitter posting by PKR vice-president Azmin Ali, Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim has agreed to Rosmah's removal in a month's time.
"Students urged the MB to remove Datin Rosmah (right) as Unisel chancellor.
"MB agreed and will announce in one month. Thunderous applause," read Azmin's posting.
Azmin's posting was referring to a gathering of 300 students from various universities with Azmin, Khalid and PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.
This is really pathetic, shamelessly partisan and totally mean-spirited.
She was invited by the previous Selangor government so why not let her term as Chancellor finish off without re-inviting her?
Why make such a spiteful announcement? It’s pathetic, pitiful, petty and utterly childish. Don’t Azmin Ali and other PKR leaders have more important things to do, like running Selangor State, than to dabble around with such masturbatory indulgences?
The argument that she should go because she is surrounded by controversies is not only too partisan but unsubstantiated.
We only have RPK’s word that she was allegedly at the scene of Altantuyaa Shariibuu’s last moments to personally ‘supervise’ the demolition of the late model’s corpse – which without any shred of evidence other than RPK's 'I have been reliably informed ...' has been, in my opinion, an incredulous preposterous allegation.
There was also an argument that her Masters degree wasn’t good enough – really, this is such a pathetic shabby argument.
OK, I know PKR is deliberately being vocal about Rosmah as part of their tactic to mitigate the Sodomy II fallout, by ratcheting up the anti-Najib campaign, but PKR should have remained on high moral grounds rather than ….. sorry, I keep forgetting they and UMNO are from the same stock … where spiteful pettiness and mean-spiritedness are their stock-in-trade.
I hope DAP will never descend to such petty bickering.
Ornithological specimens of identical plummage congregate in promixity
My matey Dean Johns has come up with another gem in his Malaysiakini column, titled Here's to the birds and the beast.
It’s a damn good read, full of humour, clever play of (English) words, and may even answer questions that some Muslim have concerns* over celebrating St Valentine’s Day with their sweeties or boyfriends.
* I read about this in someone's blog (maybe Jeff Ooi's?) some years ago
Instead Johns did a flowery satire (excuse my pun) on the ecological consequences of the day reserved for lovers (pssst, hubby and wifey can and should be lovers too).
Johns is at his trademark (tongue-in-cheek) best in this article, and the cream of the lot in my opinion would be the following ornithological specimen:
If, like me, you've started to think by now that St Valentine's Day sounds to be pretty much for the birds, you're absolutely right. Because it's actually with our feathered friends, or so some historians believe, that the whole thing actually started.
About mid-February, apparently, after the long, cold Northern-Hemisphere winter, all the birds start to feel spring in the air and take to pairing-off, necking, billing, cooing, building nests and so on. In other words, it's on or around Feb l4 that, as the old English proverb so succinctly puts it, 'birds of a feather flock together'.
Many centuries ago, it seems, humans took a gander at all this amorous avian activity and started thinking it might also be good for the goose. “If birds of a feather can do it”, people of medieval times must have reasoned, “we might as well have some flocking fun too.”
But even in those unsophisticated times it probably wasn't considered polite to come right out and invite respectable chicks out for a night of flocking around.
Look at word ‘gander’ in his third paragraph above and guess what it means in that context.
As for his last paragraph/sentence here – wakakaka - guess why I am guffawing.
It’s a damn good read, full of humour, clever play of (English) words, and may even answer questions that some Muslim have concerns* over celebrating St Valentine’s Day with their sweeties or boyfriends.
* I read about this in someone's blog (maybe Jeff Ooi's?) some years ago
Instead Johns did a flowery satire (excuse my pun) on the ecological consequences of the day reserved for lovers (pssst, hubby and wifey can and should be lovers too).
Johns is at his trademark (tongue-in-cheek) best in this article, and the cream of the lot in my opinion would be the following ornithological specimen:
If, like me, you've started to think by now that St Valentine's Day sounds to be pretty much for the birds, you're absolutely right. Because it's actually with our feathered friends, or so some historians believe, that the whole thing actually started.
About mid-February, apparently, after the long, cold Northern-Hemisphere winter, all the birds start to feel spring in the air and take to pairing-off, necking, billing, cooing, building nests and so on. In other words, it's on or around Feb l4 that, as the old English proverb so succinctly puts it, 'birds of a feather flock together'.
Many centuries ago, it seems, humans took a gander at all this amorous avian activity and started thinking it might also be good for the goose. “If birds of a feather can do it”, people of medieval times must have reasoned, “we might as well have some flocking fun too.”
But even in those unsophisticated times it probably wasn't considered polite to come right out and invite respectable chicks out for a night of flocking around.
Look at word ‘gander’ in his third paragraph above and guess what it means in that context.
As for his last paragraph/sentence here – wakakaka - guess why I am guffawing.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Court's ruling on Perak - second Pandora Box opened!
Malaysiakini headlines scream Perak MB - it's Zambry!
Yawnnn, ho hum! Though many people have been disappointed with the courts ruling they weren’t exactly surprised. In fact they had expected it, though keeping a flicker of hope for a miracle to happen. Well, it didn't.
As The Malaysian Insider editorial said in Two things we learned from the Perak fiasco — The Malaysian Insider:
Such is the decaying state of institutions in Malaysia that these days a Federal Court decision is treated as just another decision. It does not have the gravitas of the US Supreme Court, judgments do not have clarity nor authority of the House of Lords, Supreme Court of India or the highest court of Canada.
Such is the cynicism that envelopes institutions that a good many Malaysians spent this week speculating whether the final score would be a 5-0, 4-1 or 3-2 finding in favour of Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir as the mentri besar of Perak.
(Note: 5-0 was a popular choice not because many Malaysians subscribed to the legal arguments put forward by the state but because cynicism courses through their veins)
And that is why while Zambry obtained the result he needed he still cannot have the one thing he craves most – legitimacy.
Oh, incidentally, the second thing that the editorial said was the Perak royal house is now viewed with ever deeper scorn.
It wrote: Has the anger and disappointment with the palace gone away? No. The Merdeka Center survey shows clearly that a significant percentage of the people of Perak are dissatisfied with the role played by the palace in the Perak coup.
I want this post to tell everyone what I consider to be two monumental blunders in Malaysian political strategy, namely:
(1) When Dr Mahathir wanted to outflank PAS and the Islamic Party’s growing influence among the pious in the heartland, he declared Malaysia an Islamic nation. This was made against Tunku Abdul Rahman’s very declaration that Malaysia was a secular state which would uphold Islam as the nation’s official religion.
No doubt Dr Mahathir made his radical pronouncement as part of his political strategy to neutralise PAS growing influence but he opened, what non-Muslims would call, a Pandora’s Box, one which he couldn’t close back again. From thence, he gradually gave in to the genie he released.
(2) Today the Federal Court made a decision based on a ruling that once again opened another Pandora Box, that of a ruler being able to dismiss an elected MB of a State (or, in the federal arena, the elected PM of our nation).
Nizar has been right in reminding us that we can expect absolute monarchy now.
I have been warning against royal activism in politics way way before the March 2008 general election when the chief promoter of royal intervention into Malaysian politics was none other than Raja Petra Kamarudin (RPK). Of course today RPK sings a different tune.
On 23 September 2007 I posted Rulers no 'Silver Bullet' where I wrote about my post being published in RPK's Malaysia-Today: I gather from there that my advice against recruiting the Rulers in our struggle against the non-accountable, non-transparent and non-sensical BN, a move that I likened to leaping from the frying pan into the fire, has been thoroughly rejected.
Please read my post to see where RPK had led us.
I also wrote: As I mentioned before, most of the Rulers have been the problem rather than what has been touted, that they'll be the solution to sorting out a democratically elected government but one who fails repetitively to practice good process of governance, transparency and accountability.
The problem confronting us is just that, a democratically elected government but one who fails repetitively to practice good process of governance, transparency and accountability (even one who indulges in gerrymandering naughtiness and questionable creativity in elections), and not a constitutional problem.
On the other hand, enlisting the Rulers into our struggle for democratic reforms would in fact give rise to precisely that, a constitutional crisis. […]
There is no silver bullet to be found in the Rulers, which was why I wrote:
I cannot support any change in constitutional arrangement from our current constitutional monarchy, where those rulers have (correctly so) only a minor role in rule making or ruling.
It shall and must be the rakyat (people) who rule, through the ballot box! Let us not step back into the Middle Ages. I know many are enamoured with Raja Nazrin but let me quote a saying - one swallow doesn't a summer make.
After I wrote this, a sweetie wrote privately to me and asked “Vous êtes un Republicain”?
Non ma chérie, but by promoting the rulers as if they can be our political ‘silver bullets’ we will open a Pandora Box and introduce precisely what had happened in Perak, a constitutional crisis!
I blame RPK for encouraging us (at least initially) to promote royal activism in politics. I had already harboured suspicions when the rulers intervened most prominently in both Perlis and Terengganu.
While many Pakatan supporters were gleeful in seeing the BN embarrassed in those two states I was really worried about royal intrusion into the political arena – I 'saw' (and suspected) a carefully orchestrated campaign to re-exert royal muscles, and where better than in the political domain.
… and there you are, you have your Perak constitutional crisis, momentarily solved by the court with a constitutional backflip that will in years to come be compared to the (original) bad court decision in the Adorna Properties case.
Yup, the judicial judgement was unbelievably such that Nizar Jamaluddin was wont to say expect absolute monarchy now.
Padan muka!
Related:
(1) The dangers of royal political activism
(2) Bismarck: The king reigns but does not govern
(3) Tainted silver ain't no silver bullet
(4) All that is Silver does not glitter
Yawnnn, ho hum! Though many people have been disappointed with the courts ruling they weren’t exactly surprised. In fact they had expected it, though keeping a flicker of hope for a miracle to happen. Well, it didn't.
As The Malaysian Insider editorial said in Two things we learned from the Perak fiasco — The Malaysian Insider:
Such is the decaying state of institutions in Malaysia that these days a Federal Court decision is treated as just another decision. It does not have the gravitas of the US Supreme Court, judgments do not have clarity nor authority of the House of Lords, Supreme Court of India or the highest court of Canada.
Such is the cynicism that envelopes institutions that a good many Malaysians spent this week speculating whether the final score would be a 5-0, 4-1 or 3-2 finding in favour of Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir as the mentri besar of Perak.
(Note: 5-0 was a popular choice not because many Malaysians subscribed to the legal arguments put forward by the state but because cynicism courses through their veins)
And that is why while Zambry obtained the result he needed he still cannot have the one thing he craves most – legitimacy.
Oh, incidentally, the second thing that the editorial said was the Perak royal house is now viewed with ever deeper scorn.
It wrote: Has the anger and disappointment with the palace gone away? No. The Merdeka Center survey shows clearly that a significant percentage of the people of Perak are dissatisfied with the role played by the palace in the Perak coup.
I want this post to tell everyone what I consider to be two monumental blunders in Malaysian political strategy, namely:
(1) When Dr Mahathir wanted to outflank PAS and the Islamic Party’s growing influence among the pious in the heartland, he declared Malaysia an Islamic nation. This was made against Tunku Abdul Rahman’s very declaration that Malaysia was a secular state which would uphold Islam as the nation’s official religion.
No doubt Dr Mahathir made his radical pronouncement as part of his political strategy to neutralise PAS growing influence but he opened, what non-Muslims would call, a Pandora’s Box, one which he couldn’t close back again. From thence, he gradually gave in to the genie he released.
(2) Today the Federal Court made a decision based on a ruling that once again opened another Pandora Box, that of a ruler being able to dismiss an elected MB of a State (or, in the federal arena, the elected PM of our nation).
Nizar has been right in reminding us that we can expect absolute monarchy now.
I have been warning against royal activism in politics way way before the March 2008 general election when the chief promoter of royal intervention into Malaysian politics was none other than Raja Petra Kamarudin (RPK). Of course today RPK sings a different tune.
On 23 September 2007 I posted Rulers no 'Silver Bullet' where I wrote about my post being published in RPK's Malaysia-Today: I gather from there that my advice against recruiting the Rulers in our struggle against the non-accountable, non-transparent and non-sensical BN, a move that I likened to leaping from the frying pan into the fire, has been thoroughly rejected.
Please read my post to see where RPK had led us.
I also wrote: As I mentioned before, most of the Rulers have been the problem rather than what has been touted, that they'll be the solution to sorting out a democratically elected government but one who fails repetitively to practice good process of governance, transparency and accountability.
The problem confronting us is just that, a democratically elected government but one who fails repetitively to practice good process of governance, transparency and accountability (even one who indulges in gerrymandering naughtiness and questionable creativity in elections), and not a constitutional problem.
On the other hand, enlisting the Rulers into our struggle for democratic reforms would in fact give rise to precisely that, a constitutional crisis. […]
There is no silver bullet to be found in the Rulers, which was why I wrote:
I cannot support any change in constitutional arrangement from our current constitutional monarchy, where those rulers have (correctly so) only a minor role in rule making or ruling.
It shall and must be the rakyat (people) who rule, through the ballot box! Let us not step back into the Middle Ages. I know many are enamoured with Raja Nazrin but let me quote a saying - one swallow doesn't a summer make.
After I wrote this, a sweetie wrote privately to me and asked “Vous êtes un Republicain”?
Non ma chérie, but by promoting the rulers as if they can be our political ‘silver bullets’ we will open a Pandora Box and introduce precisely what had happened in Perak, a constitutional crisis!
I blame RPK for encouraging us (at least initially) to promote royal activism in politics. I had already harboured suspicions when the rulers intervened most prominently in both Perlis and Terengganu.
While many Pakatan supporters were gleeful in seeing the BN embarrassed in those two states I was really worried about royal intrusion into the political arena – I 'saw' (and suspected) a carefully orchestrated campaign to re-exert royal muscles, and where better than in the political domain.
… and there you are, you have your Perak constitutional crisis, momentarily solved by the court with a constitutional backflip that will in years to come be compared to the (original) bad court decision in the Adorna Properties case.
Yup, the judicial judgement was unbelievably such that Nizar Jamaluddin was wont to say expect absolute monarchy now.
Padan muka!
Related:
(1) The dangers of royal political activism
(2) Bismarck: The king reigns but does not govern
(3) Tainted silver ain't no silver bullet
(4) All that is Silver does not glitter
Monday, February 08, 2010
MIC virus affecting all Indian-based parties?
I feel sad for Indian Malaysians when virtually every Indian-based political party has failed them because of, in my opinion, their so-called leaders’ personal interests.
MIC is of course notorious for having failed the community it claims to represent, for God’s sake, for the last f* 52 years, so let’s not talk about this ‘Must I Come’ party anymore.
The Makkal Sakhti party has been a joke right from Day 1. Hijacking for its name the slogan of ‘Peoples Power’ made famous by the original Hindraf movement, it had managed to convince the PM into attending its inauguration ceremony – a PM who was smart enough to realize that Indian support will be the crucial factor in many constituencies.
But Najib, smart as he was in this regard, failed to realize the multitude of jokers in that party, chief among whom has been the so-called chief wakakaka.
The power-crazy struggle among its leaders has now embroiled even ROS where accusations have been levied against alleged ‘fiddling’ of the party constitution to provide the party’s president with ‘convenient’ powers.
One has to sadly realize by now that the political formation and objectives of the Makkal Sakthi party have nothing to do with the well-being of the Indian community but with the personal ambitions of the leaders.
But the saddest revelation of all has to be the intention of HRP, led by the two brothers, Waynamoorthy and Uthayakumar.
The party is turning out to be a ‘spoiler’ (against Pakatan) which obviously can only benefit BN – this was amply demonstrated in the recent state by-election in NS. If we recall, Uthayakumar campaigned for Indians to boycott the ballot box, and who would have benefited from the boycott, and who had won?
Earlier Uthayakumar and his supporters had railed against Lim GE, demanding the State government do the impossible, but hardly touching/mentioning the party responsible in the first place for the Kampung Buah Pala saga, the Gerakan Party.
Why was there the double standard? Why were the grievances lodged only against the DAP? Why not against the responsible party, Gerakan-BN?
I was also deeply shocked at the medieval-style vilification against the Deputy CM of Penang, Professor Rama. Was/is it right to call a fellow Indian a ‘mandor’? The nastiness of such an outrageous insult was not only unfair but totally uncivilized by today’s value system.
Quite frankly, no non Indian-based party has honoured and recognized so many Indians as its leaders, promoting them to its top echelon, as the DAP.
Its chairperson and secular-spiritual leader is Karpal Singh the true Khalsa warrior. The Deputy CM of Penang is a highly qualified Indian Malaysian, most deserving of his political position, and the speaker of the Perak ADUN is also an Indian of extraordinary and intrepid character ... so on so forth.
One must wonder at the vicious vile venom that Uthayakumar has been spewing against the Penang DAP.
Then Malayisakini’s article Calls for Anwar to leave political arena stated on Friday that (note in particular the last sentence):
Hindraf's fallout with Anwar and DAP is seen as a big liability, with Hindraf now working through the Human Rights Party (HRP) to create Indian seats in 15 parliamentary and 38 state constituencies in Peninsular Malaysia.
Indians are the kingmakers in 67 parliamentary seats in Peninsular Malaysia. If Pakatan Rakyat does not give room to HRP, BN is expected to win by default in the 15/38 seats, a prospect that Umno openly welcomes.
Hmmm!
Now, HRP also wants to ‘spoil’ Pakatan’s chances in Perak by putting up its candidate against Nizar Jamaluddin in Pasir Panjang, Perak, should state elections be called.
Of course the timing is just at a time when we all smell a State election coming up in Perak, and surprise surprise, HRP wants to put up its candidates for 3-corner fights in seats the Pakatan has strong chances of winning but only if they are straight fights between Pakatan and BN - just a f* coincidence I suppose? For more, see HRP may challenge Nizar in possible Perak elections.
In 'Once bitten' Hindraf shies away from Pakatan Waythamoorthy has flatly ruled out any chance of working with or supporting Pakatan. He was reported to have “… trotted out a litany of complaints against Pakatan, in particular, several of its leaders”, but alas, hardly anything against the party in rule for the last 52 years, one which has oversighted the marginalisation of the Indian Malaysians …
… which is precisely why I feel sorry for Indian Malaysians.
For years the BN has cleverly played a ‘divide and rule’ strategy in general elections, through which it enjoyed a winning advantage in most 3-corner fights – hey mate, just ask PAS and DAP.
But only on two occasions in Malaysian political history has the non-BN parties come together to neutralise the BN’s strategy of ‘divide and rule’ (adopted from its British mentor), in May 1969 and March 2008.
Only when such political commonsense has taken stock among the federal opposition, did we witness the Perikatan-BN juggernaut reduced to mortal dimensions, and ripe for defeat.
Just when Pakatan is at the cusp of victory, trust HRP to indicate its ‘spoiler’ political intention. And of course BN will benefit from this selfish petulant treachery of HRP.
No doubt it will be the happy outcome that Najib and the BN desire (merely coincidental of course).
It is clear that the MIC disease is not confined only to MIC.
MIC is of course notorious for having failed the community it claims to represent, for God’s sake, for the last f* 52 years, so let’s not talk about this ‘Must I Come’ party anymore.
The Makkal Sakhti party has been a joke right from Day 1. Hijacking for its name the slogan of ‘Peoples Power’ made famous by the original Hindraf movement, it had managed to convince the PM into attending its inauguration ceremony – a PM who was smart enough to realize that Indian support will be the crucial factor in many constituencies.
But Najib, smart as he was in this regard, failed to realize the multitude of jokers in that party, chief among whom has been the so-called chief wakakaka.
The power-crazy struggle among its leaders has now embroiled even ROS where accusations have been levied against alleged ‘fiddling’ of the party constitution to provide the party’s president with ‘convenient’ powers.
One has to sadly realize by now that the political formation and objectives of the Makkal Sakthi party have nothing to do with the well-being of the Indian community but with the personal ambitions of the leaders.
But the saddest revelation of all has to be the intention of HRP, led by the two brothers, Waynamoorthy and Uthayakumar.
The party is turning out to be a ‘spoiler’ (against Pakatan) which obviously can only benefit BN – this was amply demonstrated in the recent state by-election in NS. If we recall, Uthayakumar campaigned for Indians to boycott the ballot box, and who would have benefited from the boycott, and who had won?
Earlier Uthayakumar and his supporters had railed against Lim GE, demanding the State government do the impossible, but hardly touching/mentioning the party responsible in the first place for the Kampung Buah Pala saga, the Gerakan Party.
Why was there the double standard? Why were the grievances lodged only against the DAP? Why not against the responsible party, Gerakan-BN?
I was also deeply shocked at the medieval-style vilification against the Deputy CM of Penang, Professor Rama. Was/is it right to call a fellow Indian a ‘mandor’? The nastiness of such an outrageous insult was not only unfair but totally uncivilized by today’s value system.
Quite frankly, no non Indian-based party has honoured and recognized so many Indians as its leaders, promoting them to its top echelon, as the DAP.
Its chairperson and secular-spiritual leader is Karpal Singh the true Khalsa warrior. The Deputy CM of Penang is a highly qualified Indian Malaysian, most deserving of his political position, and the speaker of the Perak ADUN is also an Indian of extraordinary and intrepid character ... so on so forth.
One must wonder at the vicious vile venom that Uthayakumar has been spewing against the Penang DAP.
Then Malayisakini’s article Calls for Anwar to leave political arena stated on Friday that (note in particular the last sentence):
Hindraf's fallout with Anwar and DAP is seen as a big liability, with Hindraf now working through the Human Rights Party (HRP) to create Indian seats in 15 parliamentary and 38 state constituencies in Peninsular Malaysia.
Indians are the kingmakers in 67 parliamentary seats in Peninsular Malaysia. If Pakatan Rakyat does not give room to HRP, BN is expected to win by default in the 15/38 seats, a prospect that Umno openly welcomes.
Hmmm!
Now, HRP also wants to ‘spoil’ Pakatan’s chances in Perak by putting up its candidate against Nizar Jamaluddin in Pasir Panjang, Perak, should state elections be called.
Of course the timing is just at a time when we all smell a State election coming up in Perak, and surprise surprise, HRP wants to put up its candidates for 3-corner fights in seats the Pakatan has strong chances of winning but only if they are straight fights between Pakatan and BN - just a f* coincidence I suppose? For more, see HRP may challenge Nizar in possible Perak elections.
In 'Once bitten' Hindraf shies away from Pakatan Waythamoorthy has flatly ruled out any chance of working with or supporting Pakatan. He was reported to have “… trotted out a litany of complaints against Pakatan, in particular, several of its leaders”, but alas, hardly anything against the party in rule for the last 52 years, one which has oversighted the marginalisation of the Indian Malaysians …
… which is precisely why I feel sorry for Indian Malaysians.
For years the BN has cleverly played a ‘divide and rule’ strategy in general elections, through which it enjoyed a winning advantage in most 3-corner fights – hey mate, just ask PAS and DAP.
But only on two occasions in Malaysian political history has the non-BN parties come together to neutralise the BN’s strategy of ‘divide and rule’ (adopted from its British mentor), in May 1969 and March 2008.
Only when such political commonsense has taken stock among the federal opposition, did we witness the Perikatan-BN juggernaut reduced to mortal dimensions, and ripe for defeat.
Just when Pakatan is at the cusp of victory, trust HRP to indicate its ‘spoiler’ political intention. And of course BN will benefit from this selfish petulant treachery of HRP.
No doubt it will be the happy outcome that Najib and the BN desire (merely coincidental of course).
It is clear that the MIC disease is not confined only to MIC.
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Is someone undermining Najib Razak?
I have always enjoyed Josh Hong’s column in Malaysiakini, even though at times I have disagreed with him, as I had with two other of my fave MKNI columnists, my good mate Dean Johns and sweetie Helen Ang – but then that’s the essence of enjoyable reading because they, by providing views different to mine, have stimulated my thinking.
Josh’s latest article, Nasir Safar not the issue; racism is, is a damn good read, where he lamented the racist-oriented products of the infamous Biro Tatanegara (BTN).
His concluding paragraphs, as follows, captured my full attention:
While some have come to Nasir's defence and said that his words were taken out of context, I tend to think otherwise judging from the furious reaction from the floor.
As we all know, BN component parties are habitually subservient to Umno, with many of their leaders treating right-hand men of successive prime ministers as royal emissaries. That MIC and MCA members present at the forum had the guts to stage a walkout speaks volume of the excesses in Nasir's speech.
That MIC and MCA members walked out in the midst of Nasir's speech effectively pulled the carpet from under the feet of his apologists who offered the usual excuses that Nasir was misinterpreted, misquoted, misunderstood (but never ‘misguided’).
Some apologists even left their pathetic claw marks on the door sill by suggesting only 'a few' walked out. Even if just one MIC or MCA person had walked out, it would have indicated the deeply offensive nature of Nasir's words.
I am not so much disturbed or concerned by Nasir's comments as others. After all, he is just a minion serving the interests of his political master. What he uttered was not a gaffe; rather, his views are quite likely shared by many in the Malay-dominated civil service.
These people are products of the controversial Biro Tata Negara, and have been fed with a racist ideology that does not in the long term engender a people of hope, courage and tolerance, but of fear, jealousy and even hatred. Just look at how the Umno-controlled media has been reporting on some vitally important national issues.
Given such a social milieu, why should we be surprised that Najib cannot even convince those around him of his 1Malaysia vision? I am more worried how this mindset can be shifted without entailing severe social costs.
Josh is saying, and I agree with him, that Najib has not convinced his own UMNO people of his 1Malaysia aspiration. Much as Najib might have claimed (in an interview in Singapore) that he was/is an UMNO warlord, it’s becoming clear that he isn’t the Big Kahuna as one would have expected of UMNO leaders in the mould of Tengku (at least up to 1969 - we knew how he was 'sabotaged' in May 1969), Razak, Hussein (for the short time he was PM – wonder how he would have fared if he stayed longer?) and Mahathir.
So, while we have been proudly and gleefully proclaiming there has been a sea change in the Malaysian political landscape, we have basically referred to. or limited this change in political thinking to the growing non-BN or pro-Pakatan electorates.
But within UMNO, there has also been a sea change as well, not necessarily the ‘Road to Damascus’ type*, but that of a growing disenchantment with and diminishing confidence in their No 1 leader.
* there'll be the usual migration of 'rats leaving the sinking ship' but I wouldn't classify rats as ‘Road to Damascus’ types
You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know this ‘sea change’ within UMNO started with AAB, where he was undermined continuously, and certainly most effectively.
The once-invincible respect and adulation, or even fear, by party members for the UMNO President had eroded (or 'had been' eroded), and is unlikely to be restored to the level of its glory days. This in itself may not be a bad thing for UMNO and Malaysia, but we need first to see what directions politics within UMNO will take.
The only thing I can say about AAB’s downfall is that he made one humongous ‘UMNO-crime’ in going against (or abruptly terminating) the unfinished legacy of his predecessor. To what extent his SIL had influenced him into doing so is irrelevant, but that AAB did so spelt the beginning of his end. His enemies were just too powerful for him.
So, is Najib facing the same undermining, though the intensity is more of a chipping away at some of his policies rather than ruthless chopping at his knees?
As Josh Hong succinctly said: These people are products of the controversial Biro Tata Negara, and have been fed with a racist ideology that does not in the long term engender a people of hope, courage and tolerance, but of fear, jealousy and even hatred. Just look at how the Umno-controlled media has been reporting on some vitally important national issues.
All these wee Napoleons need is just a ‘leader’ to egg them on – a ‘leader’ who doesn’t like the way Najib is going or believes the PM has gone too far.
Josh’s latest article, Nasir Safar not the issue; racism is, is a damn good read, where he lamented the racist-oriented products of the infamous Biro Tatanegara (BTN).
His concluding paragraphs, as follows, captured my full attention:
While some have come to Nasir's defence and said that his words were taken out of context, I tend to think otherwise judging from the furious reaction from the floor.
As we all know, BN component parties are habitually subservient to Umno, with many of their leaders treating right-hand men of successive prime ministers as royal emissaries. That MIC and MCA members present at the forum had the guts to stage a walkout speaks volume of the excesses in Nasir's speech.
That MIC and MCA members walked out in the midst of Nasir's speech effectively pulled the carpet from under the feet of his apologists who offered the usual excuses that Nasir was misinterpreted, misquoted, misunderstood (but never ‘misguided’).
Some apologists even left their pathetic claw marks on the door sill by suggesting only 'a few' walked out. Even if just one MIC or MCA person had walked out, it would have indicated the deeply offensive nature of Nasir's words.
I am not so much disturbed or concerned by Nasir's comments as others. After all, he is just a minion serving the interests of his political master. What he uttered was not a gaffe; rather, his views are quite likely shared by many in the Malay-dominated civil service.
These people are products of the controversial Biro Tata Negara, and have been fed with a racist ideology that does not in the long term engender a people of hope, courage and tolerance, but of fear, jealousy and even hatred. Just look at how the Umno-controlled media has been reporting on some vitally important national issues.
Given such a social milieu, why should we be surprised that Najib cannot even convince those around him of his 1Malaysia vision? I am more worried how this mindset can be shifted without entailing severe social costs.
Josh is saying, and I agree with him, that Najib has not convinced his own UMNO people of his 1Malaysia aspiration. Much as Najib might have claimed (in an interview in Singapore) that he was/is an UMNO warlord, it’s becoming clear that he isn’t the Big Kahuna as one would have expected of UMNO leaders in the mould of Tengku (at least up to 1969 - we knew how he was 'sabotaged' in May 1969), Razak, Hussein (for the short time he was PM – wonder how he would have fared if he stayed longer?) and Mahathir.
So, while we have been proudly and gleefully proclaiming there has been a sea change in the Malaysian political landscape, we have basically referred to. or limited this change in political thinking to the growing non-BN or pro-Pakatan electorates.
But within UMNO, there has also been a sea change as well, not necessarily the ‘Road to Damascus’ type*, but that of a growing disenchantment with and diminishing confidence in their No 1 leader.
* there'll be the usual migration of 'rats leaving the sinking ship' but I wouldn't classify rats as ‘Road to Damascus’ types
You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know this ‘sea change’ within UMNO started with AAB, where he was undermined continuously, and certainly most effectively.
The once-invincible respect and adulation, or even fear, by party members for the UMNO President had eroded (or 'had been' eroded), and is unlikely to be restored to the level of its glory days. This in itself may not be a bad thing for UMNO and Malaysia, but we need first to see what directions politics within UMNO will take.
The only thing I can say about AAB’s downfall is that he made one humongous ‘UMNO-crime’ in going against (or abruptly terminating) the unfinished legacy of his predecessor. To what extent his SIL had influenced him into doing so is irrelevant, but that AAB did so spelt the beginning of his end. His enemies were just too powerful for him.
So, is Najib facing the same undermining, though the intensity is more of a chipping away at some of his policies rather than ruthless chopping at his knees?
As Josh Hong succinctly said: These people are products of the controversial Biro Tata Negara, and have been fed with a racist ideology that does not in the long term engender a people of hope, courage and tolerance, but of fear, jealousy and even hatred. Just look at how the Umno-controlled media has been reporting on some vitally important national issues.
All these wee Napoleons need is just a ‘leader’ to egg them on – a ‘leader’ who doesn’t like the way Najib is going or believes the PM has gone too far.
Friday, February 05, 2010
Hindu Sangam's Pandora Box
Malaysiakini informs us in its news article Revoke Nasir Safar's citizenship: Indian NGOs that: A group of Malaysian Indian NGOs led by Hindu Sangam Malaysia will initiate legal action against Nasir Safar, demanding that his citizenship be revoked.
Now, Nasir Safar might have been a racist in making outrageous bigoted comments in which he was alleged to say that '... Indians who came to Malaysia were beggers and Chinese women came to 'jual tubuh' (engage in flesh trade) ...'.
He deserves to be condemned, sued, charged under the Sedition Act and jailed, or even detained under the ISA.
But for Indian NGOs, especially Hindu Sangam, to demand that he be stripped of his citizenship is not only over the top but unbelievably stupid.
What if the government indeed strips Nasir Safar of his citizenship?
Won’t that be a f* precedent, where the government CAN then on STRIP any Malaysian of HIS/HER CITIZENSHIP, because of a racist statement made, or for whatever it believes Malaysians ought to have their citizenships taken away?
Which community will be the most likely to lose if Hindu Sangam succeeds in opening the Citizenship Pandora Box?
While I can understand the average Indian in the street making such an emotionally dangerous statement, I cringe at and bemoan the reality that it had been Hindu Sangam who did it.
No Malaysian should ever fear having his or her citizenship ever taken away - it's his/her inviolable constitutional rights.
Idiots! Dumbos! Bodoh! How can you represent or speak for Indian Malaysians?
Now, Nasir Safar might have been a racist in making outrageous bigoted comments in which he was alleged to say that '... Indians who came to Malaysia were beggers and Chinese women came to 'jual tubuh' (engage in flesh trade) ...'.
He deserves to be condemned, sued, charged under the Sedition Act and jailed, or even detained under the ISA.
But for Indian NGOs, especially Hindu Sangam, to demand that he be stripped of his citizenship is not only over the top but unbelievably stupid.
What if the government indeed strips Nasir Safar of his citizenship?
Won’t that be a f* precedent, where the government CAN then on STRIP any Malaysian of HIS/HER CITIZENSHIP, because of a racist statement made, or for whatever it believes Malaysians ought to have their citizenships taken away?
Which community will be the most likely to lose if Hindu Sangam succeeds in opening the Citizenship Pandora Box?
While I can understand the average Indian in the street making such an emotionally dangerous statement, I cringe at and bemoan the reality that it had been Hindu Sangam who did it.
No Malaysian should ever fear having his or her citizenship ever taken away - it's his/her inviolable constitutional rights.
Idiots! Dumbos! Bodoh! How can you represent or speak for Indian Malaysians?
Monday, February 01, 2010
Will PKR prune its dead branches?
Yesterday I posted Is Lim Guan Eng 'communist-minded'? which discussed the ‘expectation’ of a typical UMNO member, and by extension those of PKR members who were originally from UMNO.
These people ‘expect’ a share of the war loot, the ‘war’ being the election which their party had won to become the (State or Federal) government, and the ‘loot’ being the government contracts, preferential business status, official appointments, positions, etc.
Today The Malaysian Insider confirms my take in its article When a nobody is Umno Youth chief.
Talking about the difficulties Khairy Jamaluddin has as the UMNO Youth Chief but one without any official appointment in the government and thus without any ‘lollies’ to dish out to his supporters (to meet their expectation’), the article said (extracts only):
Perhaps more disadvantageous for Khairy has been his inability to dish out contracts or largesse to his hungry men. His supporters have always felt that without a position in the administration and the absence of a protector in the shape of Najib, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin or other senior Umno officials, Khairy would be hard pressed to satisfy exco members and youth wing members who need cash payments or contracts to oil their operations.
An Umno Youth official told The Malaysian Insider: “A lot of exco members are hurting. They have spent funds on their political careers and need help financially. In such a situation, they expect their leader to be the benefactor.”
Amin to his frank confession!
The disappointment of KJ’s supporters is exactly the same as some of those in PKR who were former UMNO members – their ‘expectation’ had not been met.
Meanwhile, political pundits have an ‘expectation’ of their own – they expect a number of PKR (former UMNO) members to ‘return’ back to UMNO. There have been whispers that UMNO has sinisterly ‘persuaded’ them with mucho lollies to jump ship. Anwar Ibrahim has just acknowledged this.
It has to do with UMNO wanting to seize control of very rich and yummy Selangor a la Perak, as well as regain through the back door its former 2/3 majority in Federal Parliament. The latter is to enable the BN government to approve the EC's delineation of federal and state electorates for the 2013 general election.
But hey, the above is probably the worst kept secret in Malaysia.
Another issue, this time in PKR and involving Anwar Ibrahim, was aired by my Facebook matey, Sunline.
He suggested that Anwar and PKR are worried about the probability (upgraded from mere possibility) of losing MPs to UMNO, not so much that UMNO will benefit, but more so because PKR could then possibly have less MPs than DAP’s 28 seats in Parliament. This was the reason given for Anwar Ibrahim’s reluctance to discipline or expel mutinous and defiant Kulim Wonder; Anwar's woe has increased because now he needs to add to this possible list Zahrain Hashim and what’s-his-name from Nibong Tebal.
PKR fears that if DAP turns out to be the Pakatan member with the most number of MPs it will demand the position of Opposition leader.
If PKR leaders fear such a silly possibility (and it’s not even a probability) then their political aspiration has sadly diminished to utter low level grubbiness, plain power craziness. C'mon lah, keep your eyes on the BIG picture - 2013 or if push comes to shove, 2018 then!
Regardless of the number of remaining PKR MPs, I have no doubt that DAP will continue to honour and recognize Anwar Ibrahim as the Opposition Leader, for the commonsense reason they are realistic enough about the difficulties that’s likely to be faced by a DAP leader in heading Pakatan, especially with a component party like PAS, and the ‘expectation’ of many Pakatan supporters in the rural constituencies.
It is better for Anwar and PKR to start pruning dead branches off its own tree and keep only the true believers, at least for 2018 if not 2013.
The problem is of course a 63-year old Anwar Ibrahim, assuming he merges unscathed from Sodomy II, is too impatient to wait until 2018. Age is also a consideration where he will then be 71 years old.
These people ‘expect’ a share of the war loot, the ‘war’ being the election which their party had won to become the (State or Federal) government, and the ‘loot’ being the government contracts, preferential business status, official appointments, positions, etc.
Today The Malaysian Insider confirms my take in its article When a nobody is Umno Youth chief.
Talking about the difficulties Khairy Jamaluddin has as the UMNO Youth Chief but one without any official appointment in the government and thus without any ‘lollies’ to dish out to his supporters (to meet their expectation’), the article said (extracts only):
Perhaps more disadvantageous for Khairy has been his inability to dish out contracts or largesse to his hungry men. His supporters have always felt that without a position in the administration and the absence of a protector in the shape of Najib, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin or other senior Umno officials, Khairy would be hard pressed to satisfy exco members and youth wing members who need cash payments or contracts to oil their operations.
An Umno Youth official told The Malaysian Insider: “A lot of exco members are hurting. They have spent funds on their political careers and need help financially. In such a situation, they expect their leader to be the benefactor.”
Amin to his frank confession!
The disappointment of KJ’s supporters is exactly the same as some of those in PKR who were former UMNO members – their ‘expectation’ had not been met.
Meanwhile, political pundits have an ‘expectation’ of their own – they expect a number of PKR (former UMNO) members to ‘return’ back to UMNO. There have been whispers that UMNO has sinisterly ‘persuaded’ them with mucho lollies to jump ship. Anwar Ibrahim has just acknowledged this.
It has to do with UMNO wanting to seize control of very rich and yummy Selangor a la Perak, as well as regain through the back door its former 2/3 majority in Federal Parliament. The latter is to enable the BN government to approve the EC's delineation of federal and state electorates for the 2013 general election.
But hey, the above is probably the worst kept secret in Malaysia.
Another issue, this time in PKR and involving Anwar Ibrahim, was aired by my Facebook matey, Sunline.
He suggested that Anwar and PKR are worried about the probability (upgraded from mere possibility) of losing MPs to UMNO, not so much that UMNO will benefit, but more so because PKR could then possibly have less MPs than DAP’s 28 seats in Parliament. This was the reason given for Anwar Ibrahim’s reluctance to discipline or expel mutinous and defiant Kulim Wonder; Anwar's woe has increased because now he needs to add to this possible list Zahrain Hashim and what’s-his-name from Nibong Tebal.
PKR fears that if DAP turns out to be the Pakatan member with the most number of MPs it will demand the position of Opposition leader.
If PKR leaders fear such a silly possibility (and it’s not even a probability) then their political aspiration has sadly diminished to utter low level grubbiness, plain power craziness. C'mon lah, keep your eyes on the BIG picture - 2013 or if push comes to shove, 2018 then!
Regardless of the number of remaining PKR MPs, I have no doubt that DAP will continue to honour and recognize Anwar Ibrahim as the Opposition Leader, for the commonsense reason they are realistic enough about the difficulties that’s likely to be faced by a DAP leader in heading Pakatan, especially with a component party like PAS, and the ‘expectation’ of many Pakatan supporters in the rural constituencies.
It is better for Anwar and PKR to start pruning dead branches off its own tree and keep only the true believers, at least for 2018 if not 2013.
The problem is of course a 63-year old Anwar Ibrahim, assuming he merges unscathed from Sodomy II, is too impatient to wait until 2018. Age is also a consideration where he will then be 71 years old.